Johnnie Edwards has pulled out of his scheduled June 12 junior lightweight bout with Robert Guerrero, according to Eric Gomez of Golden Boy Promotions, which is putting on the ESPN2-televised card from San Jose, Calif.
Edwards (15-4-1, 8 knockouts) informed Golden Boy Promotions in writing that he pulled a back muscle and would have to withdraw from the fight on Monday, according to Gomez.
“He included a letter from his doctor,” Gomez said. “Now we’re scrambling for a replacement.”
One of the leading candidates to replace Edwards is Jackson Asiku, a featherweight and junior lightweight fringe contender who traveled to Southern California with featherweight titleholder Chris John, who is training in Oxnard, Calif. in preparation for his June 27 rematch with Rocky Juarez at STAPLES Center in L.A.
Asiku (25-3, 13 KOs), one of John’s sparring partners, has only lost to then-contenders Nedal Hussein, Gairy St. Clair, and Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym, and has never been knocked out. The Australia-based Ugandan is currently on a 14-bout win streak, including a ninth-round TKO of St. Clair in a rematch earlier this year.